Ministry Soapbox

I've blogged before about soapboxes.  I am on them constantly.  Maybe it's a symptom of being short.  Who knows?  But I have one that is ongoing that I need to air.  Being in ministry is really the joy, pain and reasonable service of everyone saved by grace.  I love it but it's also a struggle.  The biggest part of the struggle is not being understood and being evaluated without evidence.  No one really knows the intricate and complex problems that arise out of ministry.  And as a believer and one who rallies to the call of giving up our rights in our representing our Lord, sharing them is really counter-productive.  But I'm doing it anyway.

The bottom-line in ministry from the strictly fleshly viewpoint is commitment.  We must be committed to Jesus in all of this.  It's not about what people think, say, or how they respond to me.  However, I must be above board.  I must be all about how I respond to their rants of unknowing.  I cannot scream, "that's not fair" or "how could you say something you know nothing about?".    No, I can only, always be committed to Jesus and responding like Him.

A young person recently shared their thoughts about worship.  In those thoughts was this one statement that was gloriously simple yet profound: "The way we live our lives is a form of worship."  Yes, I know we are representatives of Jesus Christ and our lives are a witness.  But this statement takes it to another level of great responsibility and need for accountability.

My soapbox:  As a believer in the authoritative Word of God, Jesus Christ as the only way to God and the Holy Spirit as our supernatural power in this life, find a church that stands on the Word and be committed to it in every way God has gifted you to be.  You will be misjudged, wronged, talked about and more, and that by believers.  But stay committed, love committed, work committed and pray committed and unceasingly.  God is the mover of mountains.  He will give us the strength as we honor Him in this commitment.

Greatness

"God, grant me greatness without pride.  Grant me greatness without covetousness.   Grant me greatness without selfishness.  Grant me greatness in obscurity.  Grant me greatness without the desire for anything in return.  God grant me greatness out of Your greatness and for Your glory alone.  Only by Your grace, Your power, Your design and Your strength, I pray.  Amen"

"I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  [Jesus speaking to His disciples about John the Baptist in Luke 7:28.]

Doing Battle With Yourself

As I struggled with all the pressures of life that come from every direction, my thoughts jumped in to torment me, too.  You know the thoughts of pride, selfishness, covetousness,  discontent, inadequacy, and on and on I could go.  I became weak and frustrated, wondering why it all comes at once.  I began to "take my thoughts captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5).  As I did this, another verse popped into my mind: "greater is He Who is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4, KJV)  I've always been encouraged by this verse when battling the enemy of our souls.  But this time, as I thought about it, I realized that "he that is in the world" is also me.

I'm still in the world.  My flesh is not yet redeemed.  My soul is... sure and sound and safe.  But we battle the flesh daily, moment by moment.  We must remember that we, too, can be our own worst enemy.  Well, that's why the other verse says to "take captive every thought".  We do battle with ourselves probably way more than we ever battle others.  Yes, it's hard, oppressing and gives us headaches.  The goal, however, is priceless: to glorify our Father, our Creator, our Savior and our Counselor.  We are going to make it!  It's not optional.  It's wrapped up in supernatural, God-given strength.  God is greater than all our lowest weaknesses and struggles.  He is greater than all oppression, depression, problems and thoughts.  And He has won the battle.  You get that?  We are fighting a battle that's already been won!

Venomous Snake Infestation

The first time I read about the bronze replica of a snake on a pole in the book of Numbers, I immediately saw the beautiful picture of Jesus.  This was many years ago in my early Christian walk.  I’ve read it many times since then.   But the wonder and excitement of that first moment has not been equaled.  That is not until recently.

In studying the book of John and using the John MacArthur commentary on the book, I was again struck with wonder.  However, this time from another angle. And I might add,  maybe I should change the word, “wonder” to “terror”.  All it took from the commentary is the word “infest”.  Yes, I definitely took new notice as I read that word.  Actually, it’s more like six words, six words in one sentence from one chapter: “venomous snakes to infest their camp”. (Chapter 9, pg. 114, MacArthur New Testament Commentary, John 1-11)  Think about it: INFESTED.  Snakes were everywhere. 

There is a place at my house that I have decided snakes reside.  To cap it, last year I found a snakeskin lying in the area.  Evidence in place, I now look with great caution in the whole area I’ve come to call, “the snake highway".  And this from just a feeling and one snakeskin.  In fact, the term, “snake in the grass” has new meaning for me as the area also has tall grass.  I get anxious and dread fills me just from the shear expectation of the possibility of a snake.  And this from one snakeskin!

But this moment in the history of the Old Testament, we’re talking about you don’t have to guess if the snakes are there.  They are everywhere, biting and killing people with their deadly venom.  Five short verses record this incident but the impact on the people was huge.  And by all means, the impact of this incident and it’s foreshadowing must reign huge in our minds.  (Numbers 21:5-9)

With the fall in the garden, everyone since has been born “infested” with sin.   Just like the Israelites were infested with venomous snakes in the camp in the wilderness wandering, we are infested with the blight of deadly sin from which there is no human cure.  By faith, the Israelites “looked” at a snake on a pole.  By faith, we must look to the God/Man on a cross, Jesus Christ. 

God gives us the cure.  God gives us the faith to look.  God is Sovereign, Supreme and Supplier for all parts of our healing.  God alone.  I love the simplicity and power of those words: God Alone!  May we experience daily the wonder and terror of our God.  

"Perfected in Unity"

On my exercise walk recently, a black flash caught my attention, and I looked up.  There above me was a giant crow.   It was almost as big as a hawk.  He was traveling pretty fast which is probably why I noticed; they are a bit large for fast flight.  At his tail, chirping loudly, were two very small birds (at least they were small in comparison to the crow).  These very small birds were chasing the black bird and he was fleeing.  I thought it humorous but also it was one of those moments you want to shout, “Hooray!” as the underdog had the upper hand.

Immediately, my thoughts turned to our walk as Christians and the importance of having brothers and/or sisters in Christ to help us stay the course.  We need each other to chase away the big black bird of sin.  I do not say that lightly nor do I mean it to be humorous.  It is very serious.  Do we have someone to whom we can turn for accountability?  I would say first, the Word needs to be administered daily like the needed food it is.  But we also need camaraderie.  John 17:23 says “that they may be perfected in unity.”  Why?  That the world may know that God sent Jesus and loves us as He loves Him.  (paraphrased from same passage)

Those little birds were boldly keeping their family safe and in tact by chasing off the predator.  Let us be faithful in our commitment to chase off our predator on a daily basis.

Powerless Efforts

Recently I was helping with a clean-up project.  I had volunteered to vacuum, something I'm very capable of doing!  So vacuum, I did.  I worked hard on this little room, vacuuming every little nook and cranny, window frames, baseboards, and even the closet.  It started off a bit hard, as I was using a vacuum I had never used and it was a shop-vac, which was a bit heavy.  But I wasn't to be deterred by a little extra effort and I became engrossed in my work.  The more I did the easier it became.  However, upon completion, I turned toward to vacuum to flip the switch to off and found to my embarrassed dismay that my hose had been disconnected.  I wasn't even aware when it happened.  Probably when it became "easy", I should have done some checking up on it.  I looked around to see if anyone was watching.  Thankfully, no one!  But I tell on myself today to make a point, a point I immediately realized as I looked at that hose I had carried around the room without any power!

How often do we as believers charge full speed ahead in our own energy to do a work we say is for the Lord?  For myself and my almost forty years of living for God, I would have to say, "way too many times".  Let us never charge ahead without bowing our heads in adoration to and complete dependence upon God.  I meant to write this many weeks ago, but busyness had disabled my posting.  However, I was reminded of it this morning when I read the following from "Valley Of Vision":  "I have laboured too much for spiritual life, peace of conscience, progressive holiness, in my own strength."

May we commit our work to the Lord, as we also ask Him for the strength and ability to accomplish that work.

Joy in The Moments of Now

I'd like to combine thoughts from two articles into one very important truth for us as believers.  Both articles are from the little magazine "Table Talk" put out by Ligonier Ministries and R.C. Sproul.  One of the articles is by Sproul called, "Dream a Little Dream".  And the other article is authored by Gloria Furman called, "Glorifying God in the Routines".  The first is premised by John Knox's prayer, "Give me Scotland or I die."  The second is about not discounting the mundanes as mundanes.

"We live in the mundane, and life-altering, dramatic moments are, by definition, extraordinary.  Whatever your normal is, I think we can all agree that that's where we live.  Even so, we long for significant work, unique callings, and uncommon opportunities.  It's tempting to view everyday life as a monotonous cycle of making your bed only to lie in it again.  Our perspective on the everyday business of our lives is important because when we forget about God's activity in the world, we become functionally hopeless.  What's the point of anything if "all is vanity"?  We hear Paul's instruction of "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" and we wonder how that squares with the "have-to's" of our everyday lives." (Furman)

"Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, warned us against worrying about the petty things of this world, the very things that tend to hold our attention--what we will eat, what we will wear.  We are inveterate worriers and insatiable spenders, which together mean that we tend to fret over funds.  Jesus calls us, however, not to worry over such things.  Our Father in heaven knows what we need, and He provides for us.  What we ought to be focused on is the kingdom of God, and His righteousness....  [In focusing on His righteousness, John Knox desired this focus for the citizens of Scotland to the point of his, "Give me Scotland or I die" statement.  This brings Sproul to the point of "dreaming big".]  We would be wise to learn to discern the difference between the brightness of our King's glory and the brightness of the spotlight.  There is a very thing line, one I suspect we all are tempted to dance along, between wanting to do great things for the kingdom and wanting to be great in the kingdom." (Sproul) [Dr. Sproul goes on to say that we go so far as to wondering if God would be pleased to use me the way He used Knox and believers five hundred years from now commemorating my life, and carving my likeness in marble?  He also reminds us of even Jesus own disciples arguing over their greatness in His kingdom.]

So, how do I bring these two articles together.  I believe it is the Christian's dilemma of balance and warfare with the righteousness of Christ living in them and their old sin nature and the Enemy of their souls.  We think our little lives of no consequence in the cause of Christ.  We worry over everything, both big and small, important and unimportant.  We always look for a future great work for God and neglect the joy of His working out every little detail in the moments of now.

Jesus is as much glorified in victory over the silent residual sin in our lives as He is in using us in the righteous conquest of a country.  It is, after all, the power of God in both situations.  Let us bask in that power, in that greatness with worship.  Whether or not one other person or the masses ever know of the victory, God has ordained it and it is good.  It is very good!!